Heart of a Lion: Lautaro leads Inter Milan to a Legendary Night

The words of Lautaro Martínez, who scored his ninth goal in this Champions League campaign, after Inter Milan's epic win over Barcelona

A moving, exemplary performance full of love for Inter Milan, its colors, and its fans: Lautaro fought with everything he had to be on the pitch tonight, after last week’s injury at Montjuïc.

It was a match he was determined to play at all costs—despite pain and fear—one that became legendary, helping send Inter Milan to their second Champions League final in three years, thanks in part to a goal from "El Toro."

Perhaps one of the easiest of his career, set up by Dumfries with the goal wide open—but it broke the deadlock and tied the club record for most goals scored in a single Champions League campaign.

Martínez equals Crespo’s UCL goal record and fights through injury to help send Inter Milan to the final

Lautaro now has 9 goals in this UCL season, the same number achieved by another great Argentine striker in Inter Milan history: Hernán Crespo, who hit 9 in the 2002/03 edition.

“In the first leg we suffered a lot, but we delivered an incredible team performance. Personally, I was in real pain at the end of the match and spent the first two days crying at home because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to play the second leg.

I worked double sessions all week and with a tight bandage I went out there tonight—these games are ones you have to play.

I promised my family I would play, even my mom called me all morning because she worries so much. I’m not well physically, but we’ll now work separately to recover.

Inter Milan has been raising its level for three or four years now, and we should be proud. This stadium is incredible and this team never gives up.

Since day one of this campaign, we’ve wanted to win it. Now we need to recover our energy and enjoy this final—because we have a massive chance to make history for this Club.”

Source: inter.it